If you are planning on visiting a place that you have never been to & you wanted to find honest information: would you visit a travel blog or read a guide book? Whether it was for hotels, restuarants, etc.

any recommended blogs or books? what do you like about a travel blog/book?

thank you,
jennifer

I usually ask at Fodors and Trip Advisor.

I'd start with a book, and my favorite sites.

I may go to a travel blog from a Fodorite that I respected for their advice.

However, I might not go to your particular blog because I don't respect people who come to Fodor's just because they are doing a survey.

I imagine your next post will be to promote your blog.

I did see it was a first post so you think a newly registered person will respond by posting a link to a blog of their own? Hee hee. Poeple are so very clever.

We shouldn’t rule out that I’m just cynical.
Does it seem a little fishy to you that this is the topic of a first post?

Dear L84SKY,

I am the one who originally posted my entry on Travel Advice. I am sorry if I offended you, but I wasn't looking to start trouble. I am a college student who is doing a project relating to this topic. And for sources, I just wanted travelers' opinions (with their permission of course) on how they get their information, which source they feel is most reliable. I figured the best way to do so is visit forums. That's all.

I am a frequent visitor of Fodors as I enjoy reading their articles, but this was my first time posting on this forum. I had originally posted in the Educational Travel section, but I thought I would get more responses on this forum since there are more visitors. And I don't even own a travel blog. Even if I did, I would never advertise because that is wrong.

Once again, I am very sorry if I offended you because your two post replies really bothered me. I am not some sneaky person trying to get an easy ride. I am reading & getting as much research as I possibly can. I hope this clears up everything.

Please Take Care,
Jennifer

Jennifer, It is I who owe you the apology. I hope you'll accept it. I'm sorry I mistrusted you're motive.

I usually start my research at the library and check out a couple of books for my destination, an Eyewitness book is always included.

Then I go to my favorite non-travel sites to see what museums and buildings I'll want to visit at the destination.

If I were you, I'd use the search function here on Fodor's and search for trip reports and look over the ones that get a lot of hits. There are a few classics. Some are popular because the info the give is really good and detailed. Others are well read because they're funny or outrageous.

You've hit a good site for research, and again, sorry I was mistrustful.

L84SKY,

Thank you for your reply. I am glad everything is cleared up. I can tell your last reply was sincere. I appreciate your apology, that shows you are a cool person. No harm done.

Take Care, Jennifer

The problem with hard-copy travel guides is that they're obsolete by the time they emerge from the printer: Prices change, chefs quit, hotels change their pet policy, whatever.

On the otehr hand, in every location, there are things that change little, if at all: longstanding food traditions, historic sites, natural wonders.

So I usually start with whatever guide book is handy, even if it's a couple of years old, and then proceed to the internet, as a source source of up-to-date info. Of course, the internet has inaccuracy hazards of its own. Consider the source!